Top 5 Point Guards in Toronto Raptors Franchise’s History

Top 5 Point Guards in Toronto Raptors Franchise’s History

Toronto Raptors

5. Rafer Alston

As one of the original And1 streetball players, Rafer Alston was never supposed to make it in the NBA. His flash and panache weren’t supposed to translate well at the pro level. Well, there were moments where that was the case, but for the most part, Alston had no problem using his snazzy style of play to his advantage. He had a masterful control of the basketball, which aided in his ability to dribble past defenders with ease.

Whether it was a lightning quick crossover, putting the ball between the defenders’ legs or a sudden, mind-blowing spin move, Alston knew how to make the opposition look silly. His tenure with the Toronto Raptors will mostly be remembered for his attitude problems and issues with the coaching staff. Alston had a cockiness to him that was sometimes unwarranted, but that was just the kind of guy he was. He wasn’t the greatest point guard the team ever had, but he was definitely one of the most exciting to watch.

4. Alvin Williams

Toronto fans love their players who display toughness night in and night out. That could be the hockey mentality sinking in, but it’s truly the case. If you can show that you’re busting your tail and working as hard as you can to succeed, you will immediately win over the masses. During the late ’90s and early 2000s, Alvin Williams did just that for the Raptors. Obviously, Alvin Williams did not have stellar statistics as a professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors.

However, as any fan would tell you, Williams was probably one of the most loved and respected Raptors of all-time. He was part of one of the most memorable seasons in Raptors history. In 2000-01, the Raptors made it to the second round of the NBA playoffs, only to lose, in heart-wrenching fashion, to the Philadelphia 76ers. In the 2000-01 playoffs, Williams averaged 13.8 PPG and 4.2 APG while starting all 12 games. The only other players to start all 12 games were Vince Carter, Antonio Davis and Charles Oakley. A true Raptor forever.

3. Jose Calderon

Jose Calderon is one of few Raptors to have playoff experience under his belt, 11 games to be exact. His best season with the Raptors came in 08-09, where he averaged 12.8 PPG, 8.9 APG, 2.9 RPG. Also, Calderon ranks third all-time in games played for the Raptors, only behind Morris Peterson and Chris Bosh. In addition, Calderon has the most assists all-time as a Raptor with 3,434, and there is no active player even close to this total. That might be his greatest feat as a member of the Toronto Raptors, if not his ridiculous 98 percent free-throw percentage (151-154) in the 2008-2009 season. The bad and almost sad part of Calderon’s game in Toronto was his atrocious defense. Most games, he simply didn’t try on that end of the court which is why many Raptors fans have a bad taste in their mouth when they think or talk about Jose Calderon. But, even with that said, what he did in Toronto can’t be overlooked by his lack of defensive effort.